News

NYSC, Veritable Tool To Build Strong, United Nation – Gov. Mohammed

Published

12 months ago

April 28, 2023

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State on Friday, says that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) remains a veritable tool in the country’s quest to build a strong, united and indivisible entity.

He stated this during the official swearing in ceremony of the 2023 Batch ‘A’ stream II corps members posted to Bauchi state at the permanent orientation camp, Wailo in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state.

Mohammed, who was represented by the Secretary to the state government, Ibrahim Kashim, added that the scheme, which was established about 50 years ago had demonstrated its ability to remain relevant in the life cycle of the nation.

He, however, urged the corps members to be patriotic and selfless in all their activities both in camp and at their places of primary assignment, adding that this would forge the ties of brotherhood based on trust, hopes and aspirations for a greater Nigeria.

“Given the strategic utility value of the youth as imperative for nation building, our government will spare no effort in strengthening and empowering youth related programmes and would also make adequate provision towards the realization of this objective.

“My dear compatriots, the success or otherwise of your service year is to a large extent dependent on the foundation laid during the orientation course.

“I enjoin you to participate actively in all camp activities so as to adequately equip yourselves for the challenges ahead.

“We are committed to supporting the NYSC scheme in the state and shall continue to ensure that necessary appropriation will continue to be provided to sustain the gains of the service corps,” he said.

The governor further reiterated his administration’s commitment to provide for the welfare and security needs of all corps members deployed to the state.

Also speaking, the state Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Rifkatu Yakubu, lauded the governor for the support the scheme had been enjoying in the state over time.

Yakubu was particular about the prompt mobilization of resources to rebuild the orientation camp’s perimeter fence that was destroyed by a rainstorm during the last rainy season.

“Sir, your unquantifiable love for the NYSC scheme is highly appreciated.

“May I at this juncture, make a passionate appeal to Your Excellency to please assist in reconnecting the orientation camp to the national grid.

“I equally wish to reiterate our early appeal for expansion of the Camp multipurpose hall to 5000 capacity and additional hostel accommodation so as to meet up with the growing population of Corps members,” she said.

2,300 corps members were posted to the state for the one year compulsory exercise, however, 1,200 comprising 680 males and 520 females had been registered so far.

News

NYSC Deploys 2,172 Corps Members To Bauchi State

Published

15 mins ago

April 16, 2024

Editor

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has deployed no fewer than 2,172 corps members to Bauchi State for the 2024 Batch ‘A’ stream ll orientation exercise.

The NYSC Coordinator in the state, Mrs Rifkatu Yakubu, stated this in an interview with Newsmen on Tuesday in Bauchi.

According to her, registration of prospective corps members would commence on April 17 and end at midnight on April 21 at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Wailo, in Ganjuwa Local Government Area.

She explained that the swearing-in ceremony of the prospective corps members would be conducted on April 23, while the orientation exercise would end on May 7, 2024.

She also said that each of the prospective corps members would be allowed into the camp only after being adequately certified to be genuine graduates.

The coordinator said that discreet screening of the corps members would be conducted as part of security measures to ensure that there was no intrusion or impersonation.

“Registration dates have been announced to the corps members, and they are advised to adhere strictly to all camp rules and regulations.

“Defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the scheme’s extant rules,” Yakubu said.

The state Coordinator also reiterated that the scheme frowned at late-night journeys and urged prospective corps members to avoid it for their own safety.

She tasked them to be punctual and diligent as well as comply with the camp’s acceptable dress codes, adding that flouting the directive would be sanctioned.

News

Naira Abuse: EFCC To Arraign Cubana Chief Priest Wednesday

Published

2 hours ago

April 16, 2024

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, arraign a businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, before the Federal High Court in Lagos, over allegations of abusing the naira.

Cubana Chief Priest will be arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on a three-count charge of allegedly spraying and tampering with the naira notes at a social event contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

In the charge filed on April 4 by the EFCC’s prosecutor, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo, and seven other lawyers representing the chairman of the anti-graft commission, it was alleged that “Okechukwu Pascal on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.”

In count 2, it was alleged “that you, Okechukwu Pascal sometime in 2020, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.”

In Count 3, it was alleged: “that you, Okechukwu Pascal sometime in January 2024, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying the same and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.”

The EFCC, on April 5, secured the conviction of popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, on similar charges for which he was sentenced to six-month imprisonment.

News

JUST IN: Kaduna Assembly Sets Up Committee To Probe El-Rufai

Published

4 hours ago

April 16, 2024

Editor

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has set up a fact-finding committee to probe all finances, loans and contract projects awarded under the former Governor Nasiru El-Rufai administration.

The PUNCH reports that Governor Uba Sani, during a town hall meeting on Saturday, lamented the huge debt inherited from his predecessor, El-Rufai, on May 29, 2023.

Sani had said the state was left with a few amounts, not enough to pay salary, adding that his administration inherited a total of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from the ex-governor.

“Despite the huge debt burden of 587 million dollars, 85 billion naira, and N115 billion in contractual liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development.

“We have conducted a thorough assessment of our situation and are sharpening our focus accordingly,” the governor had said.

However, on Tuesday, the state’s Assembly set up a fact-finding committee during plenary, among others, to also investigate the former governor’s top associate and Senior Counsellor on Investment, Jimi Lawal.

Besides, the panel would probe financial dealings, loans and grants and other project implementation from 2015-2023.

The State Assembly also mandated the committee to invite notable personalities including the former speakers of the 8th and 9th Assembly, commissioners of finance, former Managing Directors of Kaduna Markets, and Commissioners of Budget and Planning, among others.